Thread by @JamaMusse

In #AddisAba: THREAD
When you find the Manuscript you were looking for long time in one volume instead of the typical two volumes. This copy of the Jalaalayn has been transcribed in 935hijra (=1528 c.a). The oldest document stored in #BilalulHabeshaMuseum.
Thank you Addis.

I discovered quite by chance this new (2018) Museum in the heart of #AddisAbaba. Bilalul Habeshi is a community museum to create public awareness about Islamic heritage and their value. 140 Islamic Manuscripts among the other cultural and heritage material.
@HargeysaCC @tirsity

Quran, hand written and other religious manuscripts but also an interesting MSS dealing with Botany, Astronomy Medicine, History, Law, Grammar, Numismatics, Biography and taxation. A place to be for researchers with interest of Islam in the Horn and indigenous knowledge. More ...

A fascinating aspect of the museum tour is the chronological timeline of #Islam in #Ethiopia. It starts from the letter Prophet Mohammed (SCW) wrote to King #Nejash at the early days of Islam.

... and the information the Prophet (SCW) gave the Companions when they had to flee to Ardul Habesh.

The story timeline goes with some archeological finds that show the presence of Islam in the inner land of Ethiopia. Photos of some caves that show tombs of the 13 century with 'Loah symbol' indicating that person was 'Xaafidul Quran.' But it immediately skips to #Harar.

There is also a biography of Imam Ahmed Gurey, written by T Mekonen who I partially disagree with his conjectural historical analysis, ... but that is another story.

And here another interesting storyline starts: photos of many renowned Ethiopian Muslim scholars who spread Islam in the inner land of Ethiopia. Almost all ethnic groups. Fascinating and less-known stories.
This museum is worth visiting.
#BilalulMabeshiMuseum #AddisAbaba

Coming back to the Manuscripts, they are not only religious texts but also on other topics: science, astronomy, logic in Islamic perspective written by local Islamic scholars
It is a fascinating testimony of how indigenous knowledge has been overlooked in African formal education

At the #BilalulHabeshiMuseum there is a small but well-equipped research center.
Guess who I met there by chance? Renowned journalist, Yusuf Getachew, former editor-in-chief of Ye Muslimoch Guday (Muslim Affairs), arrested in July 2012 and released in 2016.
What a nice surprise!

It was a pleasant visit. Thank you, Hassan, an expert in Islamic Manuscripts, who accompanied me on this journey and to the entire staff of the Museum for welcoming us.
Thanks also to Yikinno, the director of the National Library who organized the visit.

... goodbye my friend, Hassan - lecturer at Addis Ababa University and now finishing his Ph.D. in South Africa, an expert in codology and trained for especially Islamic manuscripts. Till next time!
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